MINNEAPOLIS — In their quest to get more athletic and
financially flexible, the Minnesota Timberwolves were looking to move
forward Al Jefferson's slow-it-down, low-post game and chunky contract.
The Utah Jazz was searching for a replacement for Carlos Boozer who can score and rebound on the block and divert some attention from standout point guard Deron Williams on the perimeter.
They found the right match in each other.
The Timberwolves agreed to send Jefferson to the Jazz for two future first-round draft picks and center Kosta Koufos, the teams confirmed Tuesday.
Utah used the traded player exception it got from Chicago in the Boozer deal to complete the transaction and give the Timberwolves even more salary-cap flexibility going forward.
Jefferson averaged 17.1 points and 9.3 rebounds last season for the Timberwolves in his first year back from a major knee injury in February 2009. But the Wolves have signed center Darko Milicic, agreed to terms with center Nikola Pekovic and traded for forward Michael Beasley.
Notes
• Charlotte traded big men Tyson Chandler and Alexis Ajinca to Dallas for forward Eduardo Najera, ex-Bobcat Matt Carroll and, perhaps most important, the nonguaranteed $13 million final season on the contract of center Erick Dampier.
Charlotte general manager Rod Higgins indicated the team will either waive Dampier or make another trade with him; that would allow the Bobcats to clear about $7 million in salary-cap space.
• Center Zydrunas Ilgauskas reportedly will follow ex-Cleveland teammate LeBron James to play for Miami. Ilgauskas reportedly would get a two-year deal.
The Utah Jazz was searching for a replacement for Carlos Boozer who can score and rebound on the block and divert some attention from standout point guard Deron Williams on the perimeter.
They found the right match in each other.
The Timberwolves agreed to send Jefferson to the Jazz for two future first-round draft picks and center Kosta Koufos, the teams confirmed Tuesday.
Utah used the traded player exception it got from Chicago in the Boozer deal to complete the transaction and give the Timberwolves even more salary-cap flexibility going forward.
Jefferson averaged 17.1 points and 9.3 rebounds last season for the Timberwolves in his first year back from a major knee injury in February 2009. But the Wolves have signed center Darko Milicic, agreed to terms with center Nikola Pekovic and traded for forward Michael Beasley.
Notes
• Charlotte traded big men Tyson Chandler and Alexis Ajinca to Dallas for forward Eduardo Najera, ex-Bobcat Matt Carroll and, perhaps most important, the nonguaranteed $13 million final season on the contract of center Erick Dampier.
Charlotte general manager Rod Higgins indicated the team will either waive Dampier or make another trade with him; that would allow the Bobcats to clear about $7 million in salary-cap space.
• Center Zydrunas Ilgauskas reportedly will follow ex-Cleveland teammate LeBron James to play for Miami. Ilgauskas reportedly would get a two-year deal.